Britain is on track for one of the mildest winters since records began more
than 350 years ago.

Parks were busier than normal over the weekend as people enjoyed sunny spells.

The temperature peaked at 56.3F (13.5C) at Otterbourne, Hants, on Saturday. It capped a week which saw temperatures reach 55F or 57F most days.

This week, Britain will be warmer than Istanbul, in Turkey, and Madrid, in Spain. Met Office figures show that January is normally the coldest month of the year, but temperatures have been up to 14.4F above the usual 43F (6.1C) maximum.

The Woodland Trust said snowdrops and daffodils have been in bloom for weeks, and trees are in bud.

Wood pigeons have been breeding and other birds, including robins, have been heard singing. Forecasters said a predicted cold snap last week went, instead, east to Scandinavia.

It meant only hills in Scotland and northern England saw snow. The Met Office said that temperatures in the south would nudge double figures today and tomorrow.

Their figures show that temperatures in central England averaged 43F from December 1 to January 20, putting this winter on course to be one of the 10 mildest winters since records began 353 years ago, in 1659.

Last winter, the temperature averaged 37.58F (3.1C).

The mildest winter on record in central England was in 1868–69, at 44.24F (6.8C).